The goat industry survey, recently commissioned by MLA, was designed to assess the effectiveness of MLA goat industry on-farm research, development and extension (RD&E) activities carried out since May 2006 and help plan future activities.
The focus of the review was the MLA Going into goats: Profitable producers best practice guide (GIG Guide).
An online survey was deployed to 1,778 goat industry participants. This elicited 409 responses; a 23% response rate. An additional 102 individuals responded to the survey via forwarded emails and website hosted links. Of the 511 survey responses in total that were received, 275 were goat producers.
Of the 275 goat producers surveyed, 148 producers had read the GIG Guide and 65% of these indicated they had made changes or intend to make changes as a direct result of reading the GIG Guide. Of those who had not and did not intend to make changes, the majority found the GIG Guide useful as a reference or that it verified that they were on the right track in what they were doing.
The greatest percentage of producers indicated they had already made changes or intended to make further changes in the area related to managing grazing for worm control. Nutrition was also identified as an important area of change.
The areas that were identified as delivering the most significant benefit to the greatest number of producers were weighing goats and chemical use for worm control. Identifying a target market and market requirements were also considered areas of significant benefit.
Very few producers were able to quantify the actual benefit they had derived from the changes they had made however those that could indicated that they had increased their average turn off by 47% (n=22). Further, a smaller portion of respondents indicated they had increased their carcase weight by 45% (n=10).
These outcomes are consistent with the objective of the GIG Guide; to assist the Australian goat industry in increasing the quantity of goat meat in production and improving the quality of goat meat produced.
The survey indicated that MLA was considered to be able to deliver the greatest benefit through future on-farm R&D in the following areas:
- Health, welfare and husbandry practices including predation issues
- Environmentally sustainable goat production systems
- Nutrition, pasture management and availability
- Parasite control, alternatives to drench (such as grazing management) and chemical use in goats
- Genetics and breeding to increase goat and goat meat quality and quantity
- Cost of production analysis to promote economic viability
The results of the survey will now be considered in the context of a broader strategic planning exercise that will ultimately guide the investment of MLA goat on-farm R&D investment until 2011.
Thank you to those who participated in the survey.